A South Carolina state representative has proposed bringing back death by firing squad.Rep. Joshua Putnam says death row inmates are spending life in prison because the state doesn’t have enough drugs to carry out lethal injections, since drug companies aren’t selling lethal injections due to public backlash.Bobby Wayne Stone, who was convicted of killing a deputy in 1996, was supposed to be executed in December. The penalty has been delayed indefinitely."When you hear the term 'firing squad,' you think, 'That's barbaric, that's crazy, we're moving back to the 20th century,'" Putnam says. "If you actually look at the data, the research and the court cases, it is actually the most humane way of putting anyone to rest.” South Carolina lets inmates choose between lethal injection and the electric chair. "Our bill gives three options," Putnam explains. "They get to pick lethal injection, electric chair or firing squad.”If an option is unavailable, the inmate must pick from the other two. Failing to execute criminals denies victims the justice they deserve, Putnam says. "We made a promise to the victims' families to carry out that type of justice," he said. "We've got to honor that promise." Death by firing squad is currently legal in Utah, Oklahoma and Mississippi.

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

A South Carolina state representative has proposed bringing back death by firing squad.

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Rep. Joshua Putnam says death row inmates are spending life in prison because the state doesn’t have enough drugs to carry out lethal injections, since drug companies aren’t selling lethal injections due to public backlash.

Bobby Wayne Stone, who was convicted of killing a deputy in 1996, was supposed to be executed in December. The penalty has been delayed indefinitely.

"When you hear the term 'firing squad,' you think, 'That's barbaric, that's crazy, we're moving back to the 20th century,'" Putnam says. "If you actually look at the data, the research and the court cases, it is actually the most humane way of putting anyone to rest.”

South Carolina lets inmates choose between lethal injection and the electric chair.